Effect of charge inhomogeneity and mobility on colloid aggregation

Y. S. Jho, Samuel Safran, M. In, P. A. Pincus

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The aggregation of inhomogeneously charged colloids with the same average charge is analyzed using Monte Carlo simulations. We find aggregation of colloids for sizes in the range 10-200 nm, which is similar to the range in which aggregation is observed in several experiments. The attraction arises from the strongly correlated electrostatic interactions associated with the increase in the counterion density in the region between the particles; this effect is enhanced by the discreteness and mobility of the surface charges. Larger colloids attract more strongly when their surface charges are discrete. We study the aggregation as functions of the surface charge density, counterion valence, and volume fraction.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)8329-8336
Number of pages8
JournalLangmuir
Volume28
Issue number22
DOIs
StatePublished - 5 Jun 2012

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Materials Science
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Surfaces and Interfaces
  • Spectroscopy
  • Electrochemistry

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Effect of charge inhomogeneity and mobility on colloid aggregation'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this